California’s dark history has left behind locations marked by notorious crimes that still fascinate the public today. From Hollywood murders to political assassinations, these sites draw visitors seeking to understand the events that shocked the nation. While some locations have been transformed or demolished, many remain accessible to those interested in true crime history.
1. The Black Dahlia Murder Site
The empty lot at 3825 South Norton Avenue in Leimert Park marks where Elizabeth Short’s body was discovered in 1947. Her brutal murder, which earned her the nickname “The Black Dahlia,” remains one of Los Angeles’ most famous unsolved cases.
Today, the area is residential with no official marker, but true crime enthusiasts still visit the sidewalk where a passerby first spotted Short’s remains. The case’s gruesome details and Hollywood connection continue to captivate amateur sleuths and history buffs decades later.
2. Cielo Drive: The Manson Family Murder House
Though the original house at 10050 Cielo Drive was demolished in 1994, this Benedict Canyon address remains infamous as the site of the Manson Family’s murder of Sharon Tate and four others in 1969. A new mansion now stands on the property, renamed 10066 Cielo Drive.
The brutal killings shocked America and marked the symbolic end of the peaceful “Summer of Love” era. While the current residence is private property, tourists regularly drive by to glimpse the location that changed Hollywood and American culture forever.
3. Ambassador Hotel: Where Robert Kennedy Was Assassinated
The Ambassador Hotel once stood as a glamorous Los Angeles landmark until tragedy struck in its pantry on June 5, 1968. Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot here after winning the California Democratic primary.
Though the hotel was demolished in 2006, the site now houses the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools complex. Visitors can see a memorial that includes a reflecting pool and quotes from Kennedy’s speeches. The pantry area where the shooting occurred has been preserved and incorporated into the school’s design as a solemn reminder.
4. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Standing ominously in San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz wasn’t itself a crime scene but housed some of America’s most notorious criminals. From Al Capone to James “Whitey” Bulger, the prison contained dangerous men in harsh conditions from 1934 to 1963.
Multiple murders occurred within its walls, including three guards killed during the bloody 1946 escape attempt known as the “Battle of Alcatraz.” Now a National Historic Landmark, the island prison offers tours where visitors can see death row, solitary confinement cells, and locations of famous escape attempts.
5. The Cecil Hotel
Downtown LA’s Cecil Hotel earned its dark reputation through numerous suicides, murders, and mysterious deaths since opening in 1927. Most recently, it gained international notoriety with the bizarre 2013 death of Elisa Lam, whose water tank drowning remains surrounded by unanswered questions.
Serial killers Richard Ramirez and Jack Unterweger both stayed here during their murder sprees. While the building has been rebranded as Stay on Main, true crime tourists still photograph its Art Deco exterior. The hotel remains closed for renovations but continues to draw those fascinated by its macabre history.
6. Zodiac Killer’s Lake Berryessa Attack Site
On September 27, 1969, the Zodiac Killer attacked a young couple picnicking at Lake Berryessa in Napa County. Wearing his infamous executioner’s hood, he stabbed Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard, killing Shepard and leaving a message on their car door.
Today, visitors can access the lakeside spot where the attack occurred. Unlike some crime scenes that have been developed or altered, this peaceful recreation area looks much as it did that fateful day. Oak trees still dot the shoreline where the killer approached his victims before committing one of California’s most infamous unsolved crimes.
7. Harvey Milk Assassination Location
Room 200 in San Francisco’s City Hall witnessed one of America’s most significant political assassinations. On November 27, 1978, former Supervisor Dan White shot and killed Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official.
The beautiful Beaux-Arts building continues to function as a government center today. Visitors can tour City Hall, seeing both the restored mayor’s office and the corridor where White entered with his weapon. A bust of Milk now stands in the rotunda, honoring his pioneering legacy and tragic end.
8. The LaBianca Murder House
The night after the Cielo Drive killings, Manson Family members murdered Leno and Rosemary LaBianca at their home at 3301 Waverly Drive in Los Feliz. The couple had no connection to Sharon Tate or the entertainment industry, making their selection seem terrifyingly random.
Unlike the Tate murder site, this house still stands largely unchanged from its 1969 appearance. While it remains a private residence that changed hands in 2019, true crime tourists frequently drive by to glimpse the Spanish-style home. The property represents the second act of the two-night killing spree that terrorized Los Angeles.
9. San Quentin State Prison
California’s oldest prison has housed some of America’s most notorious criminals since 1852. Located on San Francisco Bay in Marin County, San Quentin contains the state’s only death row for male inmates, where criminals like Richard Ramirez and Charles Ng awaited execution.
The prison itself has been the site of countless violent incidents throughout its history. While not typically considered a tourist destination, limited educational tours are available by appointment. Visitors can see the prison museum with its collection of contraband weapons, historic photographs, and artifacts from famous inmates.
10. The People’s Temple (Jonestown Tragedy Origin)
Before the horrific 1978 mass murder-suicide in Guyana that killed 909 people, Jim Jones led his Peoples Temple from a building at 1859 Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. This headquarters served as the recruitment center and planning location for what would become the Jonestown tragedy.
The original building was destroyed, and today a post office stands at the site. A small plaque commemorates the victims nearby in Everett Middle School. While the physical evidence of the Temple is gone, the location represents the starting point of one of history’s most devastating cult disasters.
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